Fatigue Fighters

Eating more protein may boost alertness and metabolism. A laboratory study has shown that proteins stimulate brain cells that promote wakefulness and calorie burning, explains Denis Burdakov, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Cambridge in England. In other research, people who did at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise (or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise) per week felt more awake and focused than less-active people who got a similar amount of sleep, says Bradley J. Cardinal, a professor of social psychology of physical activity at Oregon State University.